India rules out third-party talks on Kashmir as Pakistan calls for UN intervention

Pakistan has persisted with its efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue despite India’s insistence on addressing the subject only through bilateral dialogue.

Sartaj Aziz, foreign policy advisor to the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, took up the issue with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, saying that New Delhi should be advised to ‘adopt a mature approach' on the issue.

Aziz spoke to the UN secretary general on Saturday and again sought his intervention on the ‘core issue’ of Kashmir.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had called for a plebiscite on the Kashmir issue when the forces of both countries were engaged in the worst exchange of fire since 2003.

He had earlier raised the matter with Ban Ki-moon on October 11. However, Ban refused to be drawn in and asked the two countries to resolve all outstanding issues through negotiations.

“India should be advised to adopt a mature and reasonable approach on the Kashmir issue and refrain its armed forces from acting irrationally,” Aziz told the UN secretary general, an official statement from the Pakistan foreign office said.

The Pakistani diplomat briefed the UN secretary general on the "frequency and intensity of the unprovoked and indiscriminate firing and shelling by the Indian forces’ that resulted in civilian casualties, injuries and damage to property".

“Pakistan is fully united and determined to thwart any aggression and had responded to India’s provocations with utmost restraint and responsibility,” Aziz claimed.

Ban reiterated his concern over the escalation of violence along the Line of Control (LoC) and deplored the loss of lives, the statement added. The UN official emphasised the "importance of necessary actions needed to be taken by both sides to de- escalate the situation and resolve all outstanding issues through negotiations".

India has already ruled out mediation or intervention by a third party on the Kashmir issue. Shortly after Aziz wrote to Ban, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said such matters should be handled within the framework of the Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration.

Pointing out that India was keen on a dialogue on all issues including Kashmir, Akbaruddin said: “It seems from what Pakistan is doing, it is not interested in this kind of dialogue.” He asserted that Pakistan’s moves would not succeed as there was no scope for a third party-intervention in bilateral relations.

“The ‘only route’ for talks is from Islamabad via Lahore to New Delhi. If the road is diverted to New York, it will not serve any purpose,” Akbaruddin said.

Pakistan has repeatedly sought to internationalise the Kashmir issue. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his speech at the UN General Assembly, raked up the issue by calling for a plebiscite on Kashmir.

The move came at a time when forces of both the countries were engaged in the worst exchange of fire along the frontiers since a ceasefire was announced in 2003.

Meanwhile, India has placed the onus on Pakistan for de- escalation of tension.

Despite India’s assertions, Aziz told Ban that the UN had ‘permanent responsibility to implement its own resolutions in Kashmir’. He urged the UN not be inhibited by ‘non-cooperation of one side'.